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The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 Passes Senate Panel

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the this-won't-end-well dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 passed a Senate panel, giving the president unprecedented power to issue a nation-wide blackout or restriction on websites without congressional approval. The bill, written by Sen. Jay Rockefeller [D-WV] and revised by Sen. Olympia Snow [R-ME], was drafted in an attempt to thwart internet-based terrorist threats, and gives the president this 'kill switch' without oversight or explanation. The bill is up for Senate vote."

6 of 367 comments (clear)

  1. Uh huh, terrororists by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why do I have a funny feeling that The Pirate Bay will suddenly be labeled a terrorist organization?

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Uh huh, terrororists by FriendlyLurker · · Score: 5, Insightful

      More likely Wikileaks than Pirate bay, especially with recent release of highly questionable CIA documents plus the imminent release of that video.

  2. Bye, bye freedom... by MahariBalzitch · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Our freedom in the US is quickly diminishing under the guise of "Terrorism". It makes me sick watching it happen and knowing there is nothing we can do about it.

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    Kickass Cheap Web Hosting
    1. Re:Bye, bye freedom... by smooth+wombat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy - James Madison

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      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  3. Re:Better than the alternative? by Nadaka · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It depends on your definition of "harm" and "good". An revolt with widespread popular support by a significant minority or even majority of citizens could require the internet to be shut down to prevent the people from organizing to rally against an oppressive regime. It worked out pretty well for Iran.

  4. Re:It's ok people by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Laws like these tend to have a long life. Who in their sane mind would give that out of his hand again? Once granted, it will stay. Even if you eventually get someone that makes Dubja look like Mahatma Ghandi.

    To avoid Godwin, I'll pull a Dollfuß. He was the dictator of Austria before it was absorbed by the German Reich. Think of him as Mini-Hitler. He ruled with a law from the first world war that allowed the administration to make laws without oversight in case of "need". He simply declared the perpetual "need" and thus circumvented the government.

    Once such power is granted, it will not go away. And it invevitably will eventually fall into the wrong hands.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.